Coin-controlled vending apparatus



Aug. 12, 1958 E. J. LUX

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lav [vii/20R. lam Zuzana Aug. 12,1958

Filed Sept. 30, 1955 E. J. LUX

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

izgene (1 [G56 Aug. 12, 1958 E. J. Lux

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 30, 1955 I VZE NTOR.

BY ugerze 1:2

Arm/9W5) iinited States Patent G CflllN-CONTRGLLED VENDING APPARATUS I Eugene J. Lux, Atlanta, Ga.

Application September 30, 1955, Serial No. 537,775

6 Claims. (Cl. 194-61) This invention relates to coin-controlled mechanisms, and more particularly to a type adapted for use in vending machines such as those which dispense liquids in predetermined quantities.

Certain types of vending machines sell packaged ingredients in powdered form which are adapted to be mixed with water or other liquid to produce coffee, tea, chocolate, soups or other beverages or liquid foods. operation is generally for the customer to. deposit either a dime or two nickels; to make his choice of the desired ingredient and then operating a corresponding lever, whereupon he will receive a package of the ingredient and a paper cup. He opens the package and deposits its con tents in the cup; places the cup. beneath a spigot, presses a button or operates a lever anda predetermined quantity of water or other required liquid is caused to fiowfrom the spigot and into the cup.

The present invention has particular reference to mechanism which can 'be used in conjunction with vendingmachines of the type above described, or which can be used in connection with many other types of liquid-dispensing apparatus in which the liquid will be dispensed in a predetermined quantity for each given amount of money leposited.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a coin-handling apparatus which will enable either one coin, such as a dime, or two coins, such as two nickels, to cor trol the operation of a suitable liquid metering and dispensing apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in an apparatus of this character, means by which a num 'ber of purchasers may successively deposit coins and the quantities of liquid thereby purchased will accumulate and will be dispensed into the cups successively placed into receptive position by the several customers.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a coin-controlled mechanism which will successfully handle coins of several denominations; which will dispense predetermined quantities of liquid; which will accumulate the quantities of liquid when successive coins are deposited, and which will possess other features of material advantage as will be apparent to those skilled in this art.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the improved coincontrolled apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the coin-release mechanism in position to eifect the release of the deposited coins and for setting the water-metering means for operation;

Fig. 3 shows the manner in which two coins of similar denomination, such as two nickels, are held on the coinrest, preparatory to being ejected therefrom by. the mechanism disclosed in Fig. 2, the section being taken sub- The mode of ice fad stantially on the line 33 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a smaller-diameter coin, such as a dime, supported on the coin-rest, the section being taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line '77 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 10 shows the electrical diagram for the liquidmetering apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates generally an apparatus used as a part of the present machine and conventionally known in the vending machine art as a slug ejector and through which coins deposited into the chute 2 will pass, and in the case of slugs or spurious coins, will be ejected to fall into a reject chute for return to the depositor. Since this mechanism is of well-known construction, its constru-ctural details are not herein shown. It is sufficient to state that all good coins passing through it will fall down and come to rest upon a pivoted coin-rest indicated at 3. Said coin-rest includes a shelf portion 4, adapted to receive on edge two coins of like denomination, such as two nickels shown at 5 and 6 in Figs. 1 and 3. The coin-rest also includes an upstanding flange or rear wall 7 having an inclined upper edge 8 adapted to support a single, smaller-sized coin, such as a dime, indicated at 9 in Fig. 4. In descending to their position of support on the shelf portion 4 of the coin-rest 3, the two nickels passing out of the nickel chute 10 of the slug-rejecting device, will pass between suitably spaced-apart plates or vertical walls 11 and 12, maintained in properly-spaced relationship by the spacer 13, the nickels falling down through the space between plates 11 and 12 to reach the position of rest on the coin-rest 3, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. Similarly, when a dime is deposited in the dime slot 14, it will pass between suitably-spaced plates or vertical walls 12 and 15 maintained in their spaced relationship by means of the spacer 16. The dime will come to rest upon the inclined upper edge 8 of the flange 7 of the coin-rest 3, substantially as shown in Fig. 4. Pivoted guide members 78 aid in the direction of the coins to the coin-rest 3.

The coin-rest 3 includes an arm shown at 17 which is pivotally mounted at 18 on plate 11. The coin-rest is inclined, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is normally held in such inclined position by means of the spring 56, so that the first nickel, or that indicated at 5, will come to rest with its edge disposed against a retaining pin 19 projecting laterally from the end portion of a lever 20 which is pivoted at 21 to the rear plate 15. At its opposite end the lever 24 is biased by the spring 22 which tends to normally hold said lever with its pin 19 in the position of coin-interception, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The second nickel, or that shown at 6, follows the first nickel by gravity and halts with its edge against the edge of the first nickel and with the upper portion of its edge located under a lug 23 provided on and having a part projecting laterally from a locking bar 24-. Locking bar 24 is pivoted at one end on the pivot pin 25 projecting from the plate 11, and it descends by gravity to the position where it is halted by the lug 23 reaching the lower end of notch 12a in plate 12, as seen in Fig. 3.

When a dime is deposited in the dime slot 14- and falls down through the space between the plates 12 and 15, and comes to rest upon the inclined upper edge 8 of the flange '7 of the coin-rest, as shown in Fig. 4, and when in that position, it will come to a stop with its edge resting against a pin 26 also provided on the lever and extending laterally therefrom and of less length than the pin 19.

At 28 is shown a link which is suitably connected to a merchandise lever having an end arranged in a suitable position on the apparatus for manipulation by the customer after the coins (two nickels or one dime) have been deposited. By manipulation of the merchandise lever, the link 28 is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, and since it is pivotally connected at 49 to a pivoted arm 30, said arm 30 will be swung in the same direction on its pivot 31, and by which the arm is pivotally attached to the plate 11. The arm 30 is formed with a laterally-bent or offset free end 32 which, when the arm 3% is swung to the right as above described, forces the coins from oif the coin-rest and causes them to fall down into a suitable collection receptacle. The arm 30 is also provided with a laterally-projecting pin or boss 33 which, upon the swing of the arm 30 to the right, rides against an under cam surface 34 provided on the arm 17 of the coin-rest 3, thereby elevating the coin-rest as partly shown in Fig. 2. If the proper coin or coins are at that time resting upon the coin-rest 3, the upper edge of the nickel 6, or the upper edge of the dime 9, will engage against the lug 23 and thus lift the locking bar 24 out of the path of the swing of the arm 30. Only when the locking bar 24 is so elevated by the coins located below it can the arm 30 be swung freely in a clockwise direction, for when there are not the proper coin or coins on the coin-rest, the locking bar 24 will, in its lowered position as shown in Fig. 1, present a shoul der 35 in the path of the end 32 of the arm 30 and thus prevent the swing of the arm.

When the coins are located on the coin rest as above described, and the coin-rest is lifted so that the locking bar is elevated by the dime or two nickels on the coinrest, the offset end 32 of the arm 36 will then sweep through the slot 36 and will move the coins to the right and off the coin-rest, causing the coins to fall down as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, into a suitably-placed collection receptacle. Since each stroke of the arm 30 will cause any and all coins supported on the coin-rest to be ejected therefrom, the possibility of jamming the machine with filed-down coins to make repeated sales with one deposit, is prevented.

in the event that the machine is empty, provision is made by which a customer may recover his deposited coin or coins by the pressure of a button, not shown, but suitably coupled to levers 64 and 613 and link 13. The link 43 has a pin 52 at its upper end, said pin being located in the slot 53 at the end of lever 65, said lever 65 being biased by the spring 54. Lever 20 is provided near one end with a pin 45 positioned and slidable in the slot 44 of link 43. When this end of the lever 20 is depressed by the downward movement of the link 43, it will swing on its pivot 21 and the opposite end of lever carrying the coin-retainer pins 19 and 26, will rise, and the deposited coins, then resting on the coinrest 3, will be free to roll down toward the left and into an ejection chute for return to the customer.

To prevent the possibility of coins being collected in the event that the apparatus should become jammed or otherwise rendered inoperative while the arm has cornpleted a part of its swing, means are provided to return the coins thereafter inserted. Pivotally secured at 29 to the arm 3t) is one end of a lever 41 which is provided adjacent to its opposite end with a cam surface 72 operative against a pin 46 projecting laterally from the link 43 adjacent to its lower end. Through this arrangement, each time that the lever 41 is moved to the right by the swing of the arm 30, the link 43 is moved downwardly and this movement pulls down lever 65 which operates to divert subsequently-deposited coins into the ejection chute of the slug ejector. Thus, as long as the link 43 is held down because the arm 30 was partly swung to the right and became jammed or was otherwise held against further swing, link 43 will be held down and the ejection chute will be held open to return deposited coins before they can fall down to an extent sufliciently to reach the coin-rest 3.

The liquid-metering device forming a part of the present apparatus, includes a ratchet Wheel 48 fastened to a disk 55 in a manner to unitarily connect these parts together. The disk 55 is provided in its periphery with a notch 49. At 57 is shown an electric motor (Fig. 9) having a shaft 73 suitably driven by reduction gearing or otherwise from the motor, and which shaft makes one revolution per minute clockwisely as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Secured on the shaft 73 by the set screw 74, is a hub 58 formed with an extended spindle 47. The ratchet wheel 48 and the disk 55 secured thereto, are loosely fitted on the spindle 47, and a coil spring 75 encircling the spindle, urges the disk and ratchet wheel against a friction washer 59, also provided on the spindle and located between the ratchet wheel and the face or shoulder on the hub 58. This arrangement is such that when the motor shaft 73 is rotated, the ratchet wheel and disk attached thereto, will be caused to rotate as a unit with it, yet the ratchet wheel and disk can be rotatively moved as a unit in an opposite direction by means to be presently described.

At 51 is shown a switch which controls the duration of operation of the motor and regulates the quantity of liquid to be dispensed, said switch having an operating finger 5t) maintained in contact with the periphery of the disk 55. When the finger is located in the notch 49 of the disk 55, the switch is in its off position and the motor 57 thus maintained inoperative. The on position of the switch is maintained as long as the finger 50 is disposed in contact with the remainder of the periphery of the disk such as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At this time, the motor 57 is in readiness for operation, but will only be actually set in operation by manipulation of a manually-operated push-button switch 70 (Fig. 10) in circuit with switch 51. In other words, the on position of the switch 51 prepares the motor 57 for operation for a given period of time to control the amount of liquid to be dispensed, while the manual switch 70 completes the circuit to cause the actual outflow of the liquid.

When a purchase is made, and lever 23 is moved to the right to cause the arm 30 to be swung to the right, the arm 39 forces the lever 41 in that direction, and a tooth 42 on lever 41 engages the ratchet wheel 48 and turns it and the disk attached to it, in a counter-clockwise direction for a distance of one tooth on the ratchet wheel. The lever 41 thus constitutes a pawl which rotates the ratchet wheel a given distance on each stroke of said lever. When this occurs, the finger 50 is caused to be moved out of the notch 49 and the switch 51 is accordingly closed or moved to on position. This places the mechanism in condition to dispense the liquid as soon as the customer presses the push-button switch .to close the circuit to a solenoid valve 71 (Fig. 10) that controls the flow of the liquid. When the circuit is thus closed by the switch 70, motor 57 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction, thus bringing the notch toward the end of the finger 50 and into which the finger will enter to thereupon open switch 51 and break the circuit to the solenoid valve 71 to thereby shut off the flow of the liquid. At the same time, current to the motor 57 will'be cut oh and the motor will cease operation, leaving the switch finger 50 remaining in the notch 49. The

teeth on the ratchet wheel 48 are located thirty-six degrees apart, and as a result, the switch 51 is maintained in on or closed position for six seconds, the solenoid valve being set to deliver a certain amount of fluid, for example, a cupful, in this period.

It may occur that several purchases are made before the manual switch 70 is manipulated to cause the actual dispensing of the liquid. In such event, the dispensing time will be accumulated, so that the total amount of liquid for the total number of purchases will be dispensed when the switch 70 is operated. For example, if four purchases are made before the liquid is withdrawn by pressure of the switch 70, the ratchet wheel 48 and attached disk 55 will be turned by the lever 41 for four teeth on the ratchet wheel or four times thirty-six degrees. This means that when the switch 70 is closed the amount of water which can be dispensed in twentyfour seconds will be dispensed to the successive customers.

The apparatus described permits of rapid operation and for the accurate dispensing of the liquid. Having described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vending apparatus, a movable coin-rest having parts for the support of coins of different denomination, means for engaging the coins while supported on the coin-rest and retaining them in position thereon, a coin-ejector mounted for pivotal movement and adapted to move the coins from the coin-restupon swinging movement of said ejector, a locking bar normally positioned in the path of swing of the coin-ejector and preventing the swing of the same through a coin-ejection arc, and manually-operated coin-lifting means for engaging and lifting the coin-rest to bring the coins thereon into contact with the locking bar to thereby move said locking bar out of the path of swing of the coin-ejector to permit the coin-ejector to engage the coins and move the same from otf the coin-rest.

2. In a vending apparatus, a pivoted coin-rest adapted to receive and support on edge coins of different denominations, means for retaining the coins in position thereon, a pivoted coin-ejector adapted to engage the coins on the coin-rest and move them oif the same, a locking member normally disposed in position to prevent coinejection swing of the said coin-ejector, and means on the coin-ejector for elevating the coin-rest to thereby bring the coins thereon in contact with the locking bar to move said bar from its locking position and thereby allow swing of the coin-ejector through the coin-ejection arc.

3. In a. vending apparatus, three pivotally-mounted levers, the first of said levers constituting a coin-rest upon which two similar coins or one coin of a different denomination are supported on edge, the second lever carrying means for engaging the coins and maintaining the same on the support, the third lever constituting a locking bar and having an element positioned above the coins on the support;.a pivotally-mounted coin-ejector arm mounted to be swung in a manner to move all coins from oil the support, means on the locking bar disposed in the path of swing of said ejector-arm to thereby prevent the ejector-arm from being swung sufliciently to 6 engage and move the coins, and means on the ejector-arm for engaging the coin-rest and lifting the same and the coins thereon to bring said coins into contact with the element on the locking bar to thereby move said locking bar out of the path of swing of the ejector-arms.

4. In a vending apparatus, a coin-rest on which a single coin or a plurality of coins are supported on edge, a pivoted ejector-arm adapted to swing over the coinrest and engage the coins thereon and sweep them from off the coin-rest, a pivoted locking bar having a shoulder normally positioned in the path of swing of the ejectorarm and preventing the ejector-arm from being moved through its coin-ejection are of movement, means operable to elevate the coin-rest and cause the coins thereon to engage the locking bar and move the same in a manner to bring its shoulder out of the path of movement of the coin-ejector arm.

5. In a machine for dispensing liquids, an arm caused to be swun through a coin-ejecting are by manual operation, a coin-rest holding coins in the path of swing of the arm whereby said arm will move the coins off the rest as it swings thereover, cam means on the arm and rest for elevating the rest and the coins resting thereon during its swing, a locking member having a part normally disposed in the path of swing of the arm to thereby prevent coin-ejecting swing of the arm while no coins are supported on the rest, and means for movably mounting the locking member to cause it to be lifted by coins supported on the rest when the arm is moved with a swinging movement to thereby cause the lifted coins to move the locking member out of the path of swing of the arm.

6. In a vending machine, a coin-rest in the form of a pivoted arm, a shelf on the coin rest for holding on edge a plurality of coins of similar denominations, a support on the coin-rest for holding a single, smallerdiameter coin, a pivoted coin-retainer having projections for respectively engaging the several coins and retaining them on the coin-rest, a pivoted ejector member for engaging the supported coins and moving them from 01f the coin rest upon swing of said ejector member in one direction, a pivoted locking bar having a shoulder, said locking bar being spring-biased to cause said shoulder to be disposed in the path of swinging movement of said ejector member when no coins are supported on the coin-rest to .at that time prevent coin-ejection swing of the ejector member, and co-operating cam means on the ejector member and coin rest for-causing elevation of the coin rest and coins supported thereon after the coins on the coin rest have by elevation of the coin rest elevated the locking bar to bring its shoulder out of the path of swing of the ejector member, whereby the coins so elevated will elevate the locking bar to permit the coins to be moved by the ejector member from under the locking bar and from otf the coin rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,983,073 Du Grenier Dec. 4, 1934 2,106,042 Stark Jan. 18, 1938 2,223,146 Yeomans Nov. 25, 1940 2,599,913 Hancock 1 June 10, 1952 2,674,361 Moore Apr. 6, 1954 

